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SB 25-238

Repeal School Mental Health Screening Act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 7 co-sponsors

SB 25-238 repeals Colorado’s 6th–12th grade school mental health screening program and cuts related funding and staff in the Behavioral Health Administration.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-238

SB 25-238 — Repeal School Mental Health Screening Act

Status: Governor signed (Apr 28, 2025)
Introduced: Mar 31, 2025 | Sponsors: Sen. Judy Amabile, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, Rep. Emily Sirota, Rep. Rick Taggart (primaries); cosponsors listed

Main purpose

SB 25-238 repeals Colorado’s sixth through twelfth grade school mental health screening program (created by HB 23-1003) and reduces the related FY 2025–26 General Fund appropriations and staffing in the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). The repeal is implemented by removing the statutory part that created the screening program and by adjusting related statutory exemptions for screeners.

Key provisions / statutory changes

  • Repeals Part 9 of Article 50 of Title 27 (the statutory section that created the 6th–12th grade mental health screening program — see former section 27-50-903).
  • Amends Colorado Revised Statutes 12-245-217 by removing the exemption (2)(i) that previously applied to screeners conducting school screenings under the repealed program (and by adjusting subsections (2)(g) and (2)(h) language).
  • Adjusts FY 2025–26 appropriations in the annual general appropriation act to reflect the repeal (see appropriation adjustments below).

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Total FY 2025–26 General Fund reduction: $2,856,824 (Legislative Council Staff fiscal note). Out‑year reduction is roughly similar (noted as ≈ $2.83 million).
  • Specific appropriation adjustments in the 2025 Long Bill (FY 2025–26):
    • Health, life, and dental: −$37,260
    • Short‑term disability: −$146
    • Paid family medical leave insurance: −$936
    • Unfunded liability (AEDA payments): −$20,798
    • BHA program administration (and related FTE): −$260,978 and −3.0 FTE
    • BHA — school mental health screening program: −$2,536,706
  • Personnel: reduction of 3.0 FTE in the BHA beginning FY 2025–26.
  • Programmatic: eliminating the school‑based screening is expected to reduce referrals into the “I Matter” program (a BHA youth therapy program). That could reduce I Matter costs or reduce waitlist pressures, but no additional changes to I Matter’s appropriation were required by the bill; existing appropriations will be used to maximize services within available funding.

Who is affected

  • State: Department of Human Services / Behavioral Health Administration (reduced staff and program administration funding).
  • Schools: public schools (grades 6–12) will no longer have the state‑administered screening program available.
  • Students: potential reduction in identification/referral pathways into state‑funded I Matter therapy sessions for youth previously screened into services.

Effective date and legislative actions

  • Effective upon signature of the Governor (Governor signed Apr 28, 2025).
  • Major legislative actions: introduced in Senate (Mar 31, 2025), passed both chambers without amendment, enrolled and sent to Governor Apr 17, 2025; Governor approved Apr 28, 2025.

Notes / context

  • The fiscal changes were included as part of the Joint Budget Committee’s FY 2025–26 budget package. Legislative fiscal staff noted the repeal removes screening costs previously estimated at about $2.9 million annually. The bill’s repeal may change demand for other youth behavioral health services administered by BHA.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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